Dicentra plant named ‘Burning Hearts’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dicentra peregrina×eximia  plant named ‘Burning Hearts’ with dark burgundy flowers, good vigor, a compact habit and long flowering period.

Botanical classification: Dicentra peregrina×eximia.

Varietal denomination: ‘Burning Hearts’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Dicentra peregrina×eximia known by the varietal name ‘Burning Hearts’. The new variety was discovered in Hokkaido, Japan in May of 2004. The new variety has been asexually reproduced via tissue culture or cuttings and the first date of asexual reproduction was in February of 2005 in Hokkaido, Japan. The new variety is the result of a planned breeding program cross between an unpatented, unnamed Dicentra peregrina plant (female parent), and an unpatented, unnamed Dicentra eximia plant (male parent). The purpose of the breeding program was to develop new varieties that exhibit improvements in vigor and longer flowering periods. The new variety exhibits similar form and foliage to both parents, but does have a more improved vigor, more flowers, and a longer flowering period than both parents. ‘Burning Hearts’ exhibits similar foliage, habit and vigor to Dicentra peregrina×eximia ‘Candy Hearts’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,692), but has a different flower color than ‘Candy Hearts’. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics, and remain true to type through successive propagations. The following characteristics distinguish ‘Burning Hearts’ from other varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Compact, spreading habit;     -   2. Good vigor with strong growth;     -   3. Strong, more rhizomatous root system; and     -   4. Long flowering period from late April until September.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a close up view of the blossoms of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the new variety;

FIG. 3 is a view of a field of the new variety;

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of panicle of the new variety;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the blossoms of the new variety; and

FIG. 6 is a close up view of the foliage of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new cultivar grown outside in the open ground with no extra fertilizer in The Netherlands. The color readings were taken in The Netherlands in natural daylight. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 21 days at about 15° C. -   Time to develop roots: About 49 days at about 15° C. -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:     About 70–84 days. -   Rooting habit: Fine rhizomatous root system. -   Form: Low spreading mounded foliage. -   Stem: Not present; the foliage and flowers arise directly from the     root system. -   Height: Approximately 30 cm. -   Diameter: 30–40 cm. -   Vigor: Good. -   Branching habit: Non-branching. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Petioles arise from the base.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: 10–12 cm. Width: 14–15 cm.         -   Leaflets.—Shape: Rounded, but deeply cut. Number: 5–7.             Width: Approximately 7 cm. Length: Approximately 6 cm. Shape             of apex: Acute. Shape of base: Uneven. Texture: Glabrous.             Margin type: Fern-like, deeply cut. Pubescence: Upper             surface: Both glabrous and glaucous. Lower surface: Both             glabrous and slightly glaucous. Color: Young leaflet: Upper             surface: Between 189A and 189B. Lower surface: 189B. Mature             leaflet: Upper surface: Between 188A and 189B. Lower             surface: 188A.         -   Petiole.—Length: 7–9 cm. Diameter: 3–4 mm. Color: 138A,             flushed from 59A to 59B.

FLOWER

-   Bud:     -   -   Stage of development when bud characteristics             determined.—Just before opening.         -   Shape.—Pitcher-shaped.         -   Diameter.—10 mm.         -   Length.—22–23 mm.         -   Color.—60A. -   Natural flowering season: Mid-April until late September, depending     on temperature. -   Flower type and habit:     -   -   Panicle.—Shape: Tightly packed. Number of flowers: 14 or             more flowers. Length of pedicel: 10–20 mm. Length of             peduncle: 14–15 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Zygomorphic; fused petals (lobed).         -   Petals.—Total number: 4 in 2 pairs. Outer pairs: Number: 1.             Length: 18–19 mm. Width: Minimum of 4 mm to a maximum of             9 mm. Shape: Fused; cordate. Aspect: Pendant; nodding.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening: Upper             surface: 60A. Lower surface: 155A at edge, 59A in center.             Fully opened: Upper surface: 60A. Lower surface: 155A at             edge, 59A at center. Inner pairs: Number: 1. Length:             20–21 mm. Width: 4–5 mm. Shape: Fused tube. Aspect: Pendant;             hanging. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: When             opening: Upper surface: 61A to 59B. Lower surface: 155A at             edge, 187A in center. Fully opened: Upper surface: 61A to             59B. Lower surface: 155A at edge, 187A in center. -   Calyx:     -   -   Form.—Vestigial in two halves.         -   Length.—2–3 mm.         -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Sepal shape.—Acute.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal texture.—Glabrous.         -   Sepal size.—Length: 2–3 mm. Width: 2 mm.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: 186A. Lower surface: 186A. -   Fragrance: Not noticeable. -   Disease resistance: Good, slightly susceptible to Phytophora. -   Temperature tolerance: Between −10° C. to +30° C. -   Lasting quality: Excellent; lasting up to 3 weeks depending on     weather conditions.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—2 per flower.         -   Filaments.—Length: 20 mm. Fused: Yes. Color: 155C, flushed             with 60B.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Triform. Length: 2 mm. Color: 17A.         -   Pollen.—Color: 17A. Amount: Little. -   Pistils:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 20 mm. Style: Length: 11–12 mm. Color:             182C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: 9B. -   Seed/fruit production: None observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Dicentra peregrina×eximia plant named ‘Burning Hearts’ substantially as shown and described herein. 